Metro

Pastor Jailed Eight Years For Raping Member’s Wife In Imo

Published

1 year ago

August 7, 2024

Justice T. N . Nzeukwu of the Imo State High Court has convicted and sentenced a pastor, Desmond Eke, to eight years imprisonment for raping his church member’s wife.

Eke, the founder of Deliverance Ministry of the Good Shepherd, Umuehieta Avu, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State was found guilty of taking advantage of the woman who had vested so much trust in him.

The convict was tried on three counts that bordered on raping the victim who is also a member of his church and administering a stupefying substance on his victim which made her dizzy and weak.

According to the prosecution counsel, Chioma Emuka, it was while in the dizzy state that Eke took advantage of the woman who woke up to consciousness while he was still inside her.

Emuka said, “On inquiry on why he had to violate her, the pastor told the 25-year-old woman that his semen is holy enough to deliver her of the marine spirit that was disturbing her.”

While delivering the judgment, Justice Nzeukwu held that Eke was guilty of the offences preferred against him.

The judge convicted Eke on count two of the charge of breaching trust and raping the woman but discharged him on the third count which bordered on inflicting injuries during the rape.

“Since the woman was not completely conscious during the incident, there was no way injuries could result since there was no resistance,“ Justice Nzeukwu held.

Before the sentence, the defence counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy that his client had been of good behaviour having been present in court throughout the trial without jumping bail.

He pleaded that instead of a full sentence, his client should be put on probation.

The PUNCH observes that this is the first case to be prosecuted under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act in the state.

A civil society organisation, Onurube, reported the matter and followed it up to its logical end.

Speaking on the case, the convener of Onurube, Marjorie Ezihe, lauded the court for convicting the pastor.

She believed the conviction would serve as a deterrent to those intending to indulge in such inhuman acts of seeking to have carnal knowledge of women without their consent.

Metro

Stop Using Edo Money For Federal Roads, Residents Tell Okpebholo

Published

46 minutes ago

October 7, 2025

Editor

Residents of Benin, the Edo State capital have urged Governor Monday Okpebholo to stop using money accruing to the state on federal government projects.

The residents, who frowned at the governor’s unrelenting efforts in fixing federal roads, lamented that most state-owned roads are in the state of disrepair.

According to the residents, roads in the Government Reservation Area (GRA) have failed and are not motorable, adding that several other state-owned roads have failed and are in need of urgent repairs.

An Activist and head of Talakawas Parliament, in Edo State, Kola Edokpaiyi, said it was ‘busy body’ that made Okpebholo to abandon state-owned roads that are crying for attention in favour of federal roads.

He said, “There are so many deplorable state roads in Edo State that are not motorable. We expect the Governor of Edo State to quickly give attention to them all before considering Federal Roads if the state is too rich.

“The Minister of Works, Mr. David Umahi has visited federal roads in Edo State about two times to ascertain how deplorable the roads are. He has already given the brief to Mr. President. We expect the Minister to swing into action based on the huge finance allocated by Federal Government to get the work done.

“I want to appeal to His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo to address the so many state roads that are bad.”

Also, a commercial driver, who plies between Ring Road and Ebvuotubu, Joseph Ikpigho, said he spent more money to fix his car due to bad roads.

Recall that Okpebholo has embarked on reconstruction of 23 kilometres of the Sapele Road axis of the East-West road.

He is also assisting the Federal Government to fix failed portions of the Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi highway.

Metro

Fire Guts Section Of Rivers Secretariat

Published

18 hours ago

October 6, 2025

Editor

A section of the Rivers State Secretariat was on Monday evening gutted by fire, leaving parts of the complex damaged before it was brought under control.

The fire, which reportedly started a few minutes past 5 p.m., was contained through the swift response of the Rivers State Fire Service.

Eyewitnesses said the blaze spread rapidly before firefighters arrived at the scene to extinguish it, preventing further damage to nearby offices.

Although the cause of the fire has not been officially confirmed, preliminary reports suggest that an electrical fault may have triggered the incident.

The Rivers State Head of Service, Inyingi Brown, also attributed the outbreak to an electrical fault, urging workers to ensure that all electrical appliances are switched off before leaving the office.

An unconfirmed source indicated that the fire may have affected the state Pension Commission, though the extent of the damage remains unclear.

Authorities are yet to release an official statement on the full impact of the incident as investigations continue.

Metro

18-year-old Hangs Self, Police Launch Investigation

Published

2 days ago

October 5, 2025

Editor

The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the death of an 18-year-old identified as Tersoo Veregh, who allegedly took his own life in Makurdi, the state capital.

According to Zagazola Makama, the deceased’s father, Mr. Veregh Nathaniel, of Iorkyaako Street, High Level area of Makurdi, made the tragic discovery around 2:00 a.m. on October 4, when he stepped out of his room to ease himself and found his son hanging from the ceiling.

Following the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of ‘B’ Division, Makurdi, led a team of detectives to the scene. The body was photographed and later taken to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital mortuary.

Police authorities said an investigation has commenced to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.